Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) Member – Landscape Stewardship Corps – Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, is seeking two members to contribute to landscape stewardship projects alongside Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site Staff.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps is intended for enthusiastic individuals who possess an interest in gaining experience in the field of landscape preservation or horticulture. No background or previous experience in horticulture is necessary.

For more information about the National Park Service’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) – Landscape Stewardship Corps please visit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/landscape-stewardship-corps.htm

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: March 4, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 30, 2024

*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a short walk from Boston’s Harvard Square. The site preserves the remarkable Georgian house where George Washington kept his first long-term headquarters of the American Revolution and where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his canon of 19th-century American literature. At the beginning of the 20th century, Longfellow’s oldest daughter, Alice, hired two female landscape architects, Martha Brookes Hutcheson and Ellen Biddle Shipman, to restore the property’s garden so that the famous author would have recognized it. This design remains today. For more information about Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, please visit https://www.nps.gov/long/index.htm.

Position Overview: The ACE members will work with the park’s lead gardener and dedicated volunteers to care for the site’s cultural landscape by planting shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs according to historic planting plans; growing annuals from seed; pruning and trimming trees and shrubs to obtain shape, size and desired growth characteristics; fertilizing and watering based on individual plant needs; mowing grass; hand shearing hedges; weeding; using digital cameras to document the garden throughout the summer and working with the park’s social media team to share the garden and historic landscape with remote visitors. Additional special projects will include assisting with a major tree replanting campaign and supporting NPS landscape architect colleagues with planning and design for replacement pathways and driveways on site. The ACE members may expect occasional trips to Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site and John F. Kennedy National Historic Site to help with the landscape there.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00-3:00. The schedule may change to Sunday-Thursday in the summer for helping with Sunday events held at the site. Sunday start time would be 9:00 AM.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or the NPS.

Professional Development Stipend: The ACE Member will receive $1,000 of professional development funds that can be used for approved purposes.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training will include OSHA-10 Certification and a Landscape Stewardship Fundamentals course.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Driving is NOT required: A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID’s upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold a minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team.
• Interest in horticulture, gardening, and/or tree care.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 50 pounds, ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. There is minimal exposure to hazards

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Coordinator, HPTC Programs, Kyle Ellison, at kellison@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.